Showing posts with label Braised Duck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Braised Duck. Show all posts

Monday, December 4, 2023

Pi Food (香江小厨) @ Dhoby Ghaut - Teochew Menu Revamp Led by New Esteemed Chef from China’s Teochew Region

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Renowned Chef Chen Kai Bin, hailing from China's Teochew region, has recently joined Pi Food, bringing with him a wealth of culinary expertise. Boasting an impressive culinary background, Chef Chen served as the Head Chef at the Garden Hotel's 4-star restaurant for eight years.

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With his arrival, Pi Food has undergone a menu revamp, featuring a diverse selection of Teochew dishes.

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Teochew Raw Marinated Crab 4.5/5

Marinated for four hours in a unique mix of Teochew fish sauce, lemon, garlic, chilli and coriander, this Teochew Raw Marinated Crab ($25) will appeal to seafood fans. I especially enjoyed the freshness of the coriander and the zesty-spicy flavours paired with the sweet crab meat. Apart from crab, the restaurant also offers Prawns ($24) and Clams ($16), which are prepared similarly.

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Teochew Braised Platter 4.2/5

The Teochew Braised Platter ($32) offers a variety of braised duck, pork belly, intestine and soft beancurd. Carefully infused with over 20 herbs and spices, it results in a comforting depth of flavour.

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I especially enjoyed the succulent duck slices and my dining companion liked how clean the intestines were.

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Teochew Seafood Claypot Congee 4.2/5

Chef Chen's Teochew Seafood Claypot Congee ($48) combines a medley of prawns, crab and dry scallops in congee. This comforting main was served bubbling hot in the claypot with housemade chilli dips on the side. While the congee leaned more bland than I expected, the freshness and sweetness of the seafood shone through, complemented by the tang of the chilli sauce.

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Steamed Yellow Croaker with Puning Soybean Sauce 4/5

For our fish dish, we had the Steamed Yellow Croaker with Puning Soybean Paste Sauce ($28), which was infused with Puning soybean paste sauce before steaming, complementing the sweetness of the fish.

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Deep-fried Prawn Paste Pork Ribs 4.5/5

The Deep-fried Prawn Paste Pork Ribs ($22) is reminiscent of our local favourite Har Cheong Gai. I thoroughly enjoyed these tender and crisp pieces which were so flavourful!

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Teochew Fried Oyster Omelette 3.8/5

I was less of a fan of their Teochew Fried Oyster Omelette ($16) as it was much more oilier than I preferred. This rendition by Pi Food has a higher ratio of starch to egg.

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Braised Sweet Potato & Yam 4.5/5

Finally, we ended our meal with the Braised Sweet Potato & Yam ($10). It is a lovely dessert for us, with the strips of sweet potatoes and yam encased in a sweet and ultra-thin crust drizzled with a dash of fragrant shallot oil.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Pi Food 香江小厨
9 Penang Road
#01-18
Singapore 238459
Tel: +65 9239 0686
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC, NE, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 10pm
Sun: 1030am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk straight to Penang Road. Cross the right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Monday, July 17, 2023

EatAlley @ Orchard Gateway - A Malaysian Food Court Featuring Popular KL Street Food Brands

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EatAlley, located in basement 2 of Orchard Gateway, is Orchard's latest Malaysian food theme foodcourt. This 150-seater houses 8 top KL street food brands- Koon Kee Wanton Mee, Hong Lai Hokkien Mee, Siong Huat Bah Kut Teh, Kam Heong Braised Duck, Soong Kee Beef Noodle, Fatty Nasi Lemak, and Restoran Chuan Huat.

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Kampung Nasi Lemak (adapted for EatAlley) - Founded a decade ago, the Malaysian founder, nicknamed Fatty, has been making nasi lemak kukus the old-fashioned way using wooden steamers. So here we have the signature dish - Nasi Lemak with Ayam Rempah, complete with fried ikan bilis, peanuts, sunny side up egg and sambal ($8.80), finished with a ladle of curry sauce doused over. The rice was incredibly fragrant and fluffy, making it a perfect match with the robust sauce and sambal. The fried chicken leg had a good crunch on the outside, with the meat tender and juicy. We also had a serving of Beef Rendang that was pleasingly tender.

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Kam Heong Braised Duck - Established in 1976 by Tan Boon Seong, the Teochew-style Braised Duck is cooked with eight herbs. The duck meat carried a light herbal fragrance and was at its right tenderness, and the sauce left a delectable lingering herbaceous aftertaste.

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Koon Kee Wanton Mee (adapted for EatAlley) - Established in the 1940s on Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, their thin egg noodles, minced pork wanton and roasted char siew are prepared and cooked in-house. We had the Signature Duo Combo of Char Siew, "Flower" Mushrooms, and Braised Chicken Feet with KL-style dark sauce noodles ($10.80). The noodles coated in a flavourful dark sauce had a good bite to it. The pork shoulder char siew was succulent with pronounced layers of fats that stood out against the glossy, blackish caramelized exterior.

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Soong Kee Beef Noodle - was founded by Siew Wei Hann's father, who started the business right after the second world war in 1945. What's interesting about their beef noodle is that the dish is made with two components - housemade noodles coated with dark soy sauce and decadent with a scoop of umami-rich minced pork and beef mixture and served alongside a bowl of clear beef soup containing beef tripe, juicy beef balls and tender beef slices from Australia. The latter acquires its light depth of flavour from the brewing of only beef balls without the bones, and its cleaner taste makes it the perfect accompaniment to the noodles.

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Uncle Beh Pork Noodle - was started by Beh Chin Kiang's late father in 1963 at a rented stall in Pudu Raya (Pudu market). The Signature Pork Noodle Combo with Kway Teow in Soup ($10.80) features minced and sliced pork and pigs' intestines, liver and kidney. The much-anticipated soup was savoury sweet with a good depth of flavour, and I relished it till the very last drop.

If I were to pick three dishes to eat again, I would go for the Pork Kway Teow Soup, Wanton Mee and the Nasi Lemak. They are my favourites among the 8 stalls.

Words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


EatAlley
Orchard Gateway
277 Orchard Road
#B2-12
Singapore 238858
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am – 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Yue Bai (月白) @ Duxton Road - A Contemporary Expression Of Shi Liao Gastronomy And Chinese Culture

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Yue Bai (月白) is a modern Chinese restaurant helmed by Singaporean co-owner and Chef Lee Hongwei. The cuisine at Yue Bai is based on the principles of traditional Chinese dietary therapy (食疗 shi liao) through refreshing renditions of Chinese heritage dishes.

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Australian Lamb Jelly 3.5/5

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Crispy Burdock 4.2/5

We started dinner with a couple of appetisers. The Crispy Burdock ($14) coated with sesame and spice powder is an addictive and delicious snack. On the other hand, the Australian Lamb Jelly ($22) is a rendition of the traditional Teochew pork trotter jelly. The shredded lamb meat is combined with black bean and chicken stock and chilled for at least a day. It is paired with shredded passionfruit-infused pumpkin giving it a refreshing touch to cleanse the richness.

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Roselle Flower-infused Winter Melon 3/5

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Deep-fried Organic Purple Rice Cake 4.2/5

The Roselle Flower-infused Winter Melon ($12) is very appetising with its sweet and sour taste profile, perfect for whetting up the appetite. However, my favourite is the Deep-fried Organic Purple Rice Cake ($16), which is topped with housemade XO Sauce, rice puffs and spring onions.

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Double-boiled Silkie Chicken Soup 4/5

The Double-boiled Silkie Chicken Soup ($22) is a delicious and nourishing bowl of goodness. The addition of dried longan and wolfberries provided the additional finishing sweetness.

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Stir-fried Lotus Root, Fuji Apple, Corn Kernel, Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Shrimp 4.2/5

The Stir-fried Lotus Root, Fuji Apple, Corn Kernel, Pumpkin Seeds, Dried Shrimp ($24) is the Chef's vegetarian take on the Guangdong classic of sauteed minced duck served with lettuce leaf. The diced vegetables and apple offers delightful layers of texture.

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Braised Napa Cabbage, Fried Garlic 4.5/5

It may look simple, but the Braised Napa Cabbage ($24) is soft and sweet. The whole baby Napa cabbage is braised in chicken stock until soft. It is served with fried garlic, adding body to the broth.

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Crisp-fried Pork Cartilage, Xin Hui Orange Sauce, Crispy Tofu Ring 4/5

The Crisp-fried Port Cartilage ($38) is first braised with Xin Hui mandarin peel in superior chicken stock, then deep-fried and finished in mandarin peel sauce. It comes in a crispy tofu ring made with firm tofu and millet, somewhat like the classic yam ring. The citrus notes of the aged mandarin peel balance out the richness of the pork cartilage.

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Braised Duck, Sea Cucumber, Hawthorn, Korean Snow Pear 4/5

The Braised Sea Cucumber with Duck ($58) is a traditional Hokkien speciality given a modern take. Chef Hongwei added Korean snow pear for sweetness and dried hawthorn berries for tartness. Not only is it delicious, but it also helps to improve digestion and blood circulation.

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Crisp-fried Prawn with Granola and Dried Fruits 4.2/5

Having eaten cereal prawns, pairing them with granola and dried fruits is new to me. The Crisp-fried Prawn with Granola and Dried Fruits ($36) with its crispy coat is a delightful texture enjoyment.

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Braised Hokkien Hu Tou Vermicelli 4/5

The Braised Hokkien Hu Tou Vermicelli ($35) is Chef Hongwei's childhood memories. Chef's grandmother would prepare a Henghwa version featuring a myriad of seafood. Chef's rendition braises the Hu Tu rice vermicelli from Anhui, Fujian, in superior chicken stock, served with abalone, sea cucumber, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese chives, and beansprouts. It is topped with dried sole fish crumble and crisp Henghwa first harvest black seaweed, imparting an umami and minerality finish.

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Herbal Poached Rice, Atlantic Cod, Black Fungus 4.5/5

My favourite dish for dinner goes to the Herbal Poached Rice ($38) with Atlantic Cod and Black Fungus. It is an elevated rendition of the traditional Teochew fish porridge. It is served in a hot stone pot. The egg yolk fried rice, black fungus and cod fillet are finished tableside with fish broth and herbal Shaoxing wine.

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Crispy Black Sesame Mochi, Osmanthus Sugar 4/5

We had the Crispy Black Sesame Mochi ($12) paired with Osmanthus Sugar for dessert. The delightful soft and chewy mochi's texture is coated with aromatic sesames, deep-fried to fragrant. It comes with osmanthus sugar on the side for an extra lift in flavour.

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Housemade Beancurd with Hashima 4.5/5

A must-have is the Housemade Beancurd with Hashima ($38). You can have it as original or with the accompanying pi pa syrup for a refreshing and minty lift in taste profile.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yue Bai (月白)
33 Duxton Road
Singapore 089497
Tel: +65 97218055
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1145am - 3pm, 545pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon except PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road and walk down Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Usher In A Prosperous Year Of The Rabbit With Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant CNY 2023

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Usher in a prosperous year of the Rabbit with Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore with perennial favourites for takeaways and lavish set menus.

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Japanese Unagi Yu Sheng with Roselle Sauce 4/5

Instead of the usual salmon or abalone, Xin Cuisine introduces the new Japanese Unagi Yu Sheng with Roselle Sauce ($98/$138), starring mouth-watering and nutritious grilled Japanese unagi slices paired with chef's concoction of roselle sauce to give it a balance of sweetness with a hint of fresh flower.

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Double-boiled Sea Whelk Soup with Dried Velvet Mushrooms 4/5

The Double-boiled Sea Whelk Soup with Dried Velvet Mushrooms is a hearty and nourishing bowl of goodness.

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Baked Lobster in Superior Stock 4/5

Perfectly cooked to a delightful firm and bouncy texture is the Baked Lobster in Superior Stock.

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Eight Treasure Duck 4/5

Besides the usual Pen Cai, the Eight Treasure Duck is a delicious alternative. The fork-tender duck is well flavoured by the braising sauce, accompanied by crunchy green broccoli.

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Sliced Foie Gras with Roasted Chicken & Mango Sauce

The Sliced Foie Gras with Roasted Chicken & Mango Sauce is a delectable combination comprising creamy foie gras and tender roasted chicken gel together by the fruity sweetness from the mango sauce.

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Braised Rice Vermicelli in Hong Kong Style 4.2/5

We had the Braised Rice Vermicelli in Hong Kong Style for our carb. The vermicelli has an interesting texture giving it a nice textural bite.

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Chilled White Fungus with Kumquat and Peach Resin 3.5/5

Wrapping up the meal, we had the light and refreshing Chilled White Fungus with Kumquat and Peach Resin. A fitting dessert to wash down the richly flavoured Chinese New Year dishes and double up as a palate cleanser.

Xin Cuisine’s Chinese New Year Takeaways are available for order from 1 December 2022 till 2 February 2023 through its e-shop, for collection/delivery from 21 December 2022 to 5 February 2023. Order before 31 December 2022 to enjoy an early bird discount of 20% (key in promo code CNY20 to avail the offer).

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
Level 4
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Contact: +65 31382531
Facebook
Website 
Nearest MRT: Havelock Road (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 5. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Joyden Canton Kitchen Chinese New Year Reunion Set Menus

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Joyden Canton Kitchen unveil a line-up of prosperous reunion set menus to welcome the Year of the Rabbit. This Lunar New Year, the restaurant presents a repertoire of reunion set menus showcasing appetising yam and duck creations. In offer are two sumptuous six-course (from $288) and eight-course ($688) menus, available for dine-in from 2 January to 5 February 2023.

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Crispy Yam with Salmon and Abalone Prosperity Yu Sheng 3.5/5

Toss to a new year of happiness, prosperity and longevity with Joyden's Crispy Yam with Salmon and Abalone Prosperity Yu Sheng ($78), comprising velvety slices of salmon, yam strips, julienne carrots, pomelo and crushed roasted peanuts in piquant plum sauce. I love the addition of the crispy yam sticks for additional textural enjoyment.

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Traditional Crispy Szechuan Fragrant Duck 4/5

A splendid offering for this Lunar New Year is the Traditional Crispy Szechuan Fragrant Duck. It is marinated with a medley of aromatics, steamed and then deep-fried to render a beautiful crispy skin on the outside and tender meat inside. It is served alongside a homemade sambal and kumquat sauce for a sweet and spicy kick that is the perfect foil for the deep-fried bird.

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Traditional Braised Eight Treasure Duck 4.2/5

Another impressive duck dish is the Traditional Braised Eight Treasure Duck braised for two and a half hours. The fork-tender duck is stuffed with an array of eight moreish ingredients: water chestnut, chestnut, shiitake mushroom, lotus seed, lily bulb, ginkgo, roast pork, garlic, cloaked in a luscious oyster-based sauce.

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Yam Ring with Pork Loin & Fresh Scallops in XO Sauce 4.2/5

Besides the duck-centric dishes, customers can look forward to the nostalgic crispy homemade Yam Ring with Pork Loin & Fresh Scallops in XO Sauce. The yam ring is fried to perfection with a crisp exterior and creamy interior. Nestled within it is a treasure trove of pork loin, scallops, cashew nuts, asparagus, shiitake mushroom and bell peppers stir-fried in robust XO sauce.

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Handmade Seafood Beancurd with Slow Braised Shanghai Baby Cabbage 4.8/5

The Handmade Seafood Beancurd with Slow Braised Shanghai Baby Cabbage looks unassuming, but it is a tasty and comforting dish. The seafood beancurd is pillowy soft while the soft cabbage soaked up the delicious broth.

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Steamed Fragrant Glutinous Rice with Yam and Chinese Sausage 3.5/5

The Steamed Fragrant Glutinous Rice with Yam and Chinese Sausage features fluffy, sticky rice accompanied by diced chicken, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, shiitake mushroom and yam cubes, topped with strips of egg and deep-fried Kai Lan leaves. It is like a huge rice dumpling fragranced by Chinese sausage.

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Yam Sago 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I opted for the Yam Sago, a change from the usual mango sago. The rendition tastes like bubur cha cha less the sweet potatoes and tapioca cubes.

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EXCLUSIVE CHINESE NEW YEAR PROMOTIONS
Dine-in Promotions
From 8 December 2022 to 28 February 2023:
• Customers to receive a set of Prosperity Red Packets with a minimum spend of $50.
• Customers to receive an exclusive Prosperity Cushion with a minimum spend of $130.

Takeaway Promotions
From 7 December 2022 to 5 February 2023:
• Members to enjoy 15% off with a minimum purchase of two festive delights.
• UOB card members to enjoy 10% off with a minimum purchase of two festive delights.
• Add on smoked salmon slices for $15 (U.P. $18) with any ‘Yu Sheng’ purchased.
• Stand a chance to win a free exclusive Prosperity Cushion:
    o Follow @JoydenConcepts on Facebook or Instagram
    o Snap lo hei moments with the Lo Hei Mat that comes with each set of takeaway ‘Yu Sheng’
    o Post a photo with the hashtag #CNYWithJoyden on Facebook or Instagram
Note: Prices stated are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing GST

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Joyden Canton Kitchen
HillV2
4 Hillview Rise
#02-21
Singapore 667979
Tel: +65 64659988
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to Hillview Road. Turn right onto Hillview Road. Walk down Hillview Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]